Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> >Nikon and Canon STOLE Leitz and Zeiss designs. Leitz and Zeiss tried to >sue to protect their rights and to receive compensation for their injuries, >but the Allies -- specifically, the Occupation Authorities in Japan -- >refused, on the grounds that they wished to foster a civilian optical >industry in Japan. The Allies did NOT "seize" these rights, and it was >acknowledged by the Allies that the patents still belonged to Zeiss and >Leitz. They simply refused to allow the Germans to protect their rights in >Court. > >This changed in '49 -- when Germany became independent again -- and in '54, >when Japan did the same. Yashica thereupon stole Rollei's patents to >produce their 44 design. Franke & Heidecke sued, and won. Zeiss and Leitz >should have been afforded the same privilege a decade earlier. > >Marc > >msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 >Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir! Interesting. Was it just Nikon and Canon? What about Olympus? Also, would it be possible for Leica Camera or Zeiss to sue now??? Mark Hammons P.S. -- I know you've said this before, but what does that saying at the end of your e-mails mean?